AFLM Round 3 – St Kilda v Brisbane: Four points without the glory

Kellie Underwood on the ABC commentary talked about this game as winning ugly. She also said that every error that could possibly be made was made.

That pretty much sums up the game that Nick Riewoldt made his own. He had 28 disposals, 12 marks and three goals. He was a superstar. He is our superstar.

Our coach Alan Richardson said, we butchered the ball. With an end score line for the Saints as 14.23 that it totally correct. There was a lot of butchering from 25-30 metres out right in front of goals. It looked like the boys felt they no longer believed in their ability to kick straight, and then went on to prove they didn’t have that ability.

It had me shutting my eyes before some of the goals. There were lots of moaning and groaning amongst the faithful at some of the mistakes, and had us cheering hard when goals made it through.

St Kilda dominated the first quarter with goals through Jade Gresham, Mav Weller, Blake Acres and Nick Riewoldt. Brisbane scored through captain Dayne Beams. Four behinds to Saints, two to Brisbane.

Second quarter, Riewoldt, new captain Jarryn Geary keep up the pressure, Daniel Rich responds. Shane Savage, Mitch Robinson, Josh Schache (first goal, first game) and Dyne Zorko. Quite a Brisbane comeback. Especially when the Saints kicked 6 behinds. We could have, should have, had it all tucked up by half time.

Brisbane kept coming after the main break. Rohan Bewick, Jarrod Berry, Mitch Robinson before Saints finally settled, by of course, Nick Riewoldt. Brisbane weren’t finished. Tom Bell and then Luke Dunstan. That was six Brisbane goals in a row. Not happy Sainters sitting in our membership section. Very quiet indeed.

Who knew who would stand up in the last. Would Brisbane keep coming, or would the Saints kick straight more often? Tim Membrey after three misses for the day got one through truly. Lewis Taylor responded. Then Saints settled through Leigh Montagna, Josh Bruce (four misses), Maverick Weller (3 misses), Jack Steele before Schache kicks the second.

Our misses were through our champions Gresham (4), Riewoldt (2) and those listed above. They had Saints fans questioning our development and improvement. We can’t afford games like this against better teams.

I will take ugly wins, and error laden wins any day. But I prefer the other. To play better teams we need the other. Come Sunday against Collingwood, we have to be the team we know we can be.

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